We hired animal control company to put a deterrent on our condo after 7 holes were made. The woodpecker moved to another building – one that just was completely resided and is now destroying the cedar trim board! What can we do to keep him from moving from building to building – local company is charging $60 plus $79 each woodpecker to trap – requires 6 week delay while waiting for wildlife approval! Any suggestions?

There is no doubt two things going on here. As explained in our WOODPECKER CONTROL ARTICLE, these birds will peck for one of three reasons: food, territory marking or nesting. Since it’s the fall and not spring, we can rule out territory marking or nesting activity. That leaves food. In all likelihood there is something in the wood they’re targeting and in the end, eliminating the food supply will no doubt decrease and eventually stop this destructive behavior. I encourage you to try and identify what might be living in the wood that these guys might be seeking. I’m leaning toward carpenter bees but have no reason to think this other then you mentioned the wood is cedar which I know carpenter bees love. Regardless of the pest, if you eliminate them (the food for the woodpeckers), the birds will move away on their own.

But to stop them now, I suggest installing a MOVING SPIDER where you see any activity. As our video’s show, this device is very effective at keeping them away. I would get a few and have them installed whenever any activity is detected. As long as you have them installed they’ll keep all birds away. This will allow you to better assess the situation insect wise and if you can figure out what the birds are targeting, maybe you can treat that problem and get rid of both pests for good.

Spread the Word!

The woodpeckers are tearing up the wood to get to the larvae. How can I scare them off so I can treat and hopefully stop the bee damage?

There is no need to scare them off. All birds are naturally afraid of people. Woodpeckers are especially “flighty” and will quickly leave as soon as you come within their vision. That being said, I do suggest you install some MOVING SPIDERS but only after you treat the carpenter bee holes. This will insure your home doesn’t sustain any more damage because the woodpeckers will no doubt stick around awhile since they now know your home is full of food.

At this point your strategy should be two fold. The first step will be to get some DRIONE DUST and treat all the exposed and obvious carpenter bee holes as explained in our CARPENTER BEE CONTROL article. Once treated, seal them up with the 1/2″ CORKS. Next, install some of the Spiders in the same area. They’ll protect the wood from further damage. If you treat well enough, the bees and larvae will all be dead within a few days. Larvae hatching over the summer will all die since the Drione will last 6-12 months when treated holes are sealed as we explain.

Spread the Word!

There is a small woodpecker that’s been pecking a hole on the side of my house. It sounds so loud and the hole is small but he keeps going to the same location over and over. I’ve tried to spray him with my garden hose but he’s too fast. Is there some kind of spray repellent I can squirt up there to keep him away?

Woodpeckers will usually look for food in wood and if you have some kind of insect nesting in your siding, he could be pecking out the bugs. When feeding their holes and pecking will be all over the house though usually in one main region or side. Now if there only appears to be one main hole like you’re describing, it’s more likely this bird is trying to make nest.

I suggest you view our woodpecker control video below which shows how to install one of our ATTACK SPIDERS. This is a visual deterrent that does a great job of scaring away unwanted animals like woodpeckers. Installed above the hole but close enough to reach it when activated, the moving action of the spider will keep this bird away. It usually only takes a couple of encounters and the unwanted pecking will cease.

Here is a direct link the Attack Spider and some other Bird Control Product options:

I’m continually having issues with woodpeckers putting holes through the siding of my house. It is cedar plywood siding. The woodpeckers are putting holes through the chimney portion of the house (highest part of the house). My understanding is that Woodpeckers do this because there are bugs inside that they want to feed on? What product(s) do you have that might help deter the woodpeckers? If I patch a hole they go right back to the same spot.
Regards, T.

Woodpeckers will commonly peck in search of food. Cedar commonly gets infested with Carpenterbees, Carpenterants, Powderpost Beetles and Woodwasps. Additional sources of food include Boxelder Bugs, Asian Ladybugs and Stinkbugs. These invasive insects will readily move onto structures every fall seeking shelter from the soon to arrive winter season. Though these insects don’t bore into the wood, they will many times get up under the siding. Their presence alone will attract woodpeckers which do what they know best to get the “pot of gold” behind the siding. This approach is what you refer to as “putting holes through the siding” but to them, it’s just another day looking foraging for a meal.

To stop this behavior, you’ll find several products we have listed in our WOODPECKER CONTROL article. The easisest device to employ would be our JUMPING SPIDER. When combined with BIRD TAPE, most woodpeckers can be scared away effectively. 4-THE-BIRDS GEL is another great product to employ. Woodpeckers will readily avoid treated areas for good once they encounter a little bit of this gooey gel.

Based on what you describe, it could be the woodpeckers landing on your home are in fact attempting to nest. This commonly is the case when they insist on “reopening” holes you close. To stop them for good, apply 4-The-Birds to the area after you fix it. Install some Jumping Spiders on either side of the chimney and I’m sure they’ll be gone for good.

Spread the Word!

I have a woodpecker that’s been pecking at a tree in my yard. I just noticed there is now a slight hole in the bark but I don’t think he’s building a nest. I see 2-3 of these little holes where he’s done this and now I’m worried he’s going to kill the tree. Is there anything I can do to chase him away?

Woodpeckers feed on insects and foraging on trees is what they do to find food. Pecking is mostly associated with feeding though there are times when they’ll peck to create a nest. Nest pecking is mostly confined to one location and commonly the location will get a larger and larger hole till it is capable of housing the adult ready to lay eggs. Food pecking in the same area will be more random and constantly changing which is what it sounds like is happening on your tree.

Unfortunately this behavior can kill a tree. Most every tree harbors insects of some sort and some can kill a tree. Combine the insects feeding with the Woodpecker pecking, and the tree’s life will be diminished that much faster. You could treat the tree with some Ropel detailed in our on line article on Woodpecker Control. In the article you’ll find Bird Tape which works well at keeping them away from a small area too.

I also suggest doing a good inspection of the tree to make sure it doesn’t have some kind of insect infestation that needs to be treated. Common pests that can kill a tree include Carpenter Ants, Pine Borers and Termites. Woodpeckers will commonly feed on these pests and others and sometimes treating the source of food (the insects on the tree) can be the best long term remedy to the problem. Other detailed directions on how to get rid of most any pest can be found at www.bugspray.com

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

Spread the Word!

There has been a small woodpecker pecking at my great room window and we’re afraid it’s going to do some real damage. The window is quite large and thick but his bird is strong. Why is he doing this and what can we do to make it stop?

Woodpeckers, like other birds, get territorial from time to time every year. During this time they instinctively establish territories and will even confront birds they see in what they believe to be “their turf”. Windows can reflect images and many times birds will see themselves but mistake the image to be another bird. This is most likely what’s happening at your house.

Generally this wouldn’t be a major problem and since it only lasts a short while, there is a good chance the activity will stop. But in many cases the bird will get conditioned to seeing his reflection and if left to go on “fighting” with himself, the behavior can continue much longer than normal. This is when it becomes a problem.

The best way to deal with this behavior is to set out some Bird Tape which are featured in our Woodpecker Control article. Set some up over each window and any window where the pecking is happening. If the Tape doesn’t do the trick, set out a Jumping Spider. This will definitely get them to move away.

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

There are. We carry a model that can catch woodpeckers when placed over their nests. This placement can be on a tree or the side of the home where you know an unwanted or nuisance bird is living. Basically the trap has a single entrance hole, which needs to be located over the hole of their nest, so when they leave they get caught in the trap. Once caught you’ll need to relocate the bird at least 10 miles away. If they return, you’ll need to take them 20 miles away. The distance needed to insure they don’t return will depend on the species.

Spread the Word!

We’ve had a pilated woodpecker pecking at our house for the last week and it’s getting to be a problem. At first it was cool seeing him peck but he quickly started to do some damage and now we just want him gone. I’ve seen him at several locations and I don’t think there is a nest anywhere close by. Why is it attacking our house?

Woodpeckers typically feed on insects that ware buried in wood. Their pecking reveals food for them and their keen sense of smell and hearing allows them to target pests which are cannot be seen. I suspect you could have some kind of insect problem like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, some kind of beetle, etc. that is living up under the siding of the house. Such infestations might be naked to the eye but a foraging woodpecker will quickly find them.

To stop this destructive pattern you can try several things. Ideally if you are able to locate just what the bird is feeding on you could attempt to control that pest which in turn would force the woodpecker to forage elsewhere. If you are not able to find the source or insect he is pursuing, try some of the repellents we have listed in our Woodpecker Control article. The Bird Tape might help as would the Attack Spider. Both are easy to install but you may have to set these up on several sides of the home since they’ll only work when the woodpecker gets close enough to them. If the activity is limited to a small area repelling him is usually easy to do but if the whole house is under attack, it will take several of each to get adequate coverage.

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

I have a woodpecker that’s been pecking at my house for the past 2 weeks and I want it to go away. I’ve tried setting an inflatible owl up on the roof along with some moth balls but so far nothing has worked. What do you have that we can use?

Chasing nuisance woodpeckers away can be done if you are able to place some Bird Tape or a Jumping Spider where they’re active. Sometimes this is tough but both deterrents do a good job of repelling them. If they’re on the side of the house, use the Jumping Spider and anchor it to the soffit or roof overhang. If they’re around windows, use the Bird Tape. We have more options listed in our Woodpecker Control article.

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

Spread the Word!

Is there some special reason why there has been a gila woodpecker pecking at the metal edge around my chimney top? I have a metal vent and edging that he seems to love but the pecking is very loud. I know they peck at wood for food but why my chimney cap?

Most woodpeckers will “sound” or peck at objects as a way to establish their territory as explained in our Woodpecker Control article. Gila woodpeckers are no different. Most likely to happen in the spring, sounding will be done throughout the day and is a way for this bird to communicate. To stop the loud behavior, set out some BIRD TAPE on either side of the vent. This is usually enough to repel them and keep them away from the home.